Greece Joins Member States in Ratifying Istanbul Convention

Every EU member state has signed the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. But as of March, nearly a dozen nations had failed to ratify what has become a controversial treaty. This summer Greece joined the ranks of member states supporting the enforcement of this important convention.

Greece ratified the Istanbul Convention in late June, joining the fight against domestic violence against women in Europe. The decision came on the heels of Croatia’s ratification of the treaty, and was quickly followed by Luxembourg in early July. This is a momentous event, considering the first ratification took place in 2012 by Turkey. Copyright: nito/shutterstock.com

The Istanbul Convention is notably wide in scope. It is the first legally binding instrument used to enforce violence prevention, victim protection, and prosecution for perpetrators of violence against women (and other domestic violence) throughout the bloc.

For one, CETS 210 defines and criminalizes various forms of violence against women, like forced marriage, female genital mutilation, stalking, psychological violence, and sexual violence. It also establishes an international system to monitor implementation on the national level. All signatories must provide helplines, shelters, medical care, and legal aid for women who have suffered from violence. They must also teach healthy relationships in public education and conduct regular awareness campaigns. Through requiring the establishment of longer-term budget allocations, partnerships, and data collection, treaty creators hope it will have a lasting effect.

Given that violence against women is a form of gender-based aggression and breaches basic human rights, the Union has made the issue a top priority. Though the overwhelming majority of domestic violence victims are women, signatories are encouraged to apply the framework to men and children who fall victim to domestic violence as well.

Violence against women is an increasingly present issue within Europe. According to the European Commission, one in three women in the EU has been a victim of physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15, half have experienced sexual harassment, and one in 20 has been raped. Copyright: ozgur_oral/Shutterstock.com

Support

The Convention was adopted by the Council of Europe in 2011, entered into force in August 2014, and signed by the EU in June 2017 in Istanbul, hence its name.

Financial leaders like Germany as well as all other southern EU states (Portugal, Malta, Italy, France, Spain, and Cyprus) have already ratified the framework. The Convention is also open to non-European countries, many of which have also signed and ratified the treaty.

Opposition

Initially, the treaty did not appear controversial. A series of Council of Europe initiatives preceded the document, and the UN labelled the treaty a “gold standard”, following a Europe-wide campaign from 2006 to 2008.

However, some nations have become resistant to ratify due to misconceptions that have spread about what the Convention attempts to do. These misconceptions are often politically motivated, as is seen in the United Kingdom. They point to nations where the convention has been ratified and highlight a lack of tangible results. Elsewhere, there are arguments about whether nations should design this kind of framework on their own and debates about whether the terms are in line with religious or moral standards. The most oft-cited controversy is around use of gender ideology and how the word opens a conversation about issues that are still taboo or even shamed in certain, more conservative member states. In Bulgaria, for example, the country’s Constitutional Court will hold a sitting at the end of this month to decide whether the Istanbul Convention is compliant with the country’s constitution before making a decision on its ratification.

As of publication, eight EU member states still have yet to ratify the Convention: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. They have signed the treaty and therefore cannot implement policies that actively work against its terms. Yet without ratifying the treaty, they are not required to implement its terms in full and are not held accountable for breaches under international human rights law.

Moving Forward

While the treaty will not eradicate violence against women, it serves as a gigantic leap in the right direction. According to the European Commission, one in three women in the EU has been a victim of physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15, half have experienced sexual harassment, and one in 20 has been raped. Something needs to be done to protect victims and prevent the normalisation of such behaviours, and it is the aim of this treaty to take necessary action towards this end.

The Commission has expressed hope that the treaty will extend well beyond the EU, changing the status quo from Australia to Zimbabwe. It’s increasingly important for the Union to set an example about women’s rights and many insist the Council take action so that all member states ratify the treaty as quickly as possible.

Elizabeth is a freelance writer and editor who has lived in America, Czechia, Spain, and the UK. She holds a media studies and journalism degree from New York University. Her clips can be found on NBC News, Business Insider, and Huffington Post among others. She is currently based in northern England.

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